![]() Once both probes are positioned correctly, you should get a reading on the screen of the multi-meter.įor a good battery, you should be seeing around 12.5 volts. In most cases, red indicates positive and black indicates the negative side of the battery. Switch your multi-meter to its ‘Voltage’ setting and place the corresponding probes to the positive and negative posts on top of the battery. Make sure the vehicle is switched off, and let it sit for 30 minutes or so, to allow the surface charge to dissipate, as this will give you a false reading. You will need a basic electronic ‘Multi-meter’ to carry out this check. How to check the battery 'State of Charge'Ĭhecking the battery state of charge is a relatively simple process, and will give you a basic idea of the health of the battery and how much charge it is holding. Using normal water can cause excessive corrosion inside the battery, significantly reducing the service life.įill each one of the cells to the full mark, refit the caps to the battery, and you’re done! This can be purchased from any Supercheap Auto store. If the fluid level is below the indicator marks, simply fill up to the marks with de-mineralised water. DO NOT fill the battery over these lines as the battery does heat up as it is being charged, and may overflow battery acid if it is overfilled - this will cause costly damage to your vehicle. You will see a level indicator and the fluid level needs to be up to that mark. ![]() ![]() To check and top up the battery levels, simply remove the six caps on top of the battery, and shine a light down the inspection holes. These batteries are separated into six ‘cells’ with one cap for each cell. If you have an older style of battery though, you can remove the caps off the top of the battery to check and top up the levels if required. Instead, these batteries have a sight glass on top of them, allowing you to check the colour against the chart on the top of the battery, in order to see the state of charge. Most new batteries these days are what’s classNameed as ‘Maintenance Free.’ This style of battery is sealed, and doesn’t allow you to check the electrolyte level inside. Here are some simple ways to look after your battery which should be performed periodically to make sure you are getting the most out of it. There’s nothing worse than jumping into your car when it’s pouring with rain, turning the key over, and your car not starting! We often take for granted that the battery will start the car, and don't give it much thought until it fails.
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